Bar plate or rail-joint bar



y 9, 1929. G. w. MULLER BAR PLAT OR RAIL JOINT BAR Filed M y 18, 1928 I 2 Sheets-Sheet l I HW ` INENT I?.

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m %ta A f mz Patented July 9, 1929.

UNITED STATES GEORGE W. MULLER, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR TO MULLER RAILWAY TRACK SYSTEMS. INCORPOBATED, OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, A

CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

BAR PLATE OR RAII-JOINT BAR.

;Application filed May 18,

This invention relates to bar plates or rail joint bars, sometimes termed fishplates, applied to the side of railway track rals for the purpose of holding the rails end to end where they meet and maintaining then on a level and in line. v

An object of this invcntion is the production of a bar plate ot' the nature and for the purpose stated having parts specially forrned and arranged whereby it is believed the rail joints ina serve a longer' time and be better supports on the level and in alignnent than by any devices for like uses With which this applcant is familiar.

As exen'plifyingthe objects of this invention, it may be stated here that bar plates constructed and arranged in accordance with this invention have been applied to main line track rails of a Class 1 railroad, where nore than fitty trains daily have 'passed over the bars during the past five months. This trafiic reached a total of more than six thousand trains and an estinated wheel load aggregating five million tons. It is an object ot' this invention to provide bar platcs that will successfully withstand such actual service as those e nployed as stated have been found to do.

It is also an object of this invention to uake a bar of special metal having such form and structure that it will be when placed in position. at all times under tension vertically and horizontally.

-Another object` of this invention is the Construction of a bar plate that upon the approach of the wheel loads will re-act and hold the joint up thus carrying the wheel across the open line between the rails with a resilient and ficxible rebound.` I

Another object of this invention is the fashioning of a bar plate that when in position is always under tension, so that an outward pressure is constantly exerted against the nut and the bolt head and shank which prevents theni from working loose, 'and at the same time equally holds the bar against displacenent in an direction; i

To deterinine t e preferred form bars made in accordance with this invention were subjected to three hundred tons pressure 1928. Serial No. 278,766.

released the bar jumped upwardly a foot or nore on the press thus proving its spring quality vertically. Bars made in accorda'nce with this invention were then tested by laying the bar down on its fiat side, the part that bugs .the web, on the table and a steel block three-fourths ot' an inch thick was placed under the end of the bar. Like pressure of three hundred tons was applied, and

when released the bar re-acted springing froni the table.

It is also an object of this invention to pernit bars to be n'ianu'factured cheaply in accordance therewith of any size usable with railway rails of any size or weight.

So far as the knowledge of this appiicant extends, bars of present day or ordinary type are rolled froni hot billets and fit under a -snall outer part of the rail head or throat the rail head hearing .o1"`resting down on a part of the bar plate on its top edge throughout its length and leaving a space between the bar and the web. The wave motion in the rails causes a lever action by such bars as they are now applied to`the joints which wears the rails under the heads at the joints and on the top edge of the bar at the joints at the same time. This wave or lever action wears the underside of bolt heads and causes the head to wear into the side of the' bar plate or 'this lever action in the rail causes these bolts tothrough andareone thickness and width from one'end to the other and when applied to the rail they have a dead, paralyzed or a slu gish action in contact with the rail and the wear on them as above described nakes it impossible for it to have tension both Vertical and horizontal which is -very a edgewise, the bar being set up in its regular\ -View of two rails meeting end to end and and intended position. As the press ure was having .this invention applied thereto.

' webs of the rails, some of the holes being' Figure 2 is a View of the back side of this invention which is placed against the rail. Figure 3 is a section lengthwise of the parts as shown in F igure 1 when placed against both sides of'a rail the section being taken on the broken line 3-3 of that figure. Figure 4: is a section as in Figure 3 taken on the broken line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 isa section as in Figure 3 taken on the broken line 5-5 in Figure 1, just below the head of the rail.

Figure 6, is a side View of two rails placed end to end with holes through the oval in form, vertically. a

Figure 7, is a vertical section on broken line 6-6, of Figure 1.

Figure 8 is a vertical section on broken line 8-8 of F igure 1.

Figure 9 is a vertical section on broken line 9-9 of Figure l.

F igure 10 is a Vertical section on broken line 10--10 of Figure 1.

Figure 11 is a side View of two meeting rails showing a nodified form of this in vention. In this figure a bolt hole is shown for passing a bolt between the ends of the rails, whereby the two bar plates may be held toLa rail joint with 3 bolts.

Figure 12 is a side view of two meeting the the

the

the

. rails showing the bar plates Secured by passing bolts, not shown, through holes located near the ends of the bar, one hole at either end, whereby the bar may be held with two bolts to a rail joint.

Figure 13 is a sectional View on a 'horizontal plane showing the web of a rail and bars formed in accordance with this invention, with 'a bolt passing through the thickened middle portions of the bars and through the rail. I

Figure 14 is a sectonal View on a horizontal plane showing the web of a rail and the parts illustrated substantially .half size,

and the views are fragmentary figures.

Figura 15, is a longitudinal sectional View showing all the parts assembled, when the ends are drawn inward to an extreme final osition against the web 'of the rail the ars at all times having tension and bolts likewise as shown.

Figure 16, showsa half :full size Vertical or cross section onpthe broken line 16-1G of Figure 1, llustrating the position of the bolt when first applied and slightly tightened andbefore drawing the ends of the bars inward to the railweb. The bolt hole 15 is' one of the oval holes, and to clear the In this figure( the bolt is shown top side of the body of the bolt so that when the bolt is tightened and the bars are pulled inward and upward at their ends` the bolt will have clearance in order that the joint or bar ends can be raised.

Throughout the drawings and description the same number is employed to refer to the same part.

Considering the drawings, Figure l shows the rails 1 and 2 with the bar plate 3, in :iccordance with this invention, placed across the meeting` line of the rails and upon the flanges ot' me rails. In this Figure 1 is shown also the thickened middle portion l of the bar, with the added reinforce 5 increasing downwardly in length and thickness. The ends of the bar are desiguatcd (3 and 7, and their upper edges 8 and 9 are dropped somewhat below the under surface of the heads of the rails. The bar has the end flanges 10 and 11 resting upon the flanges of the rails, and these fianges may have Vertical strengthening ribs 12 and 13. Bolt holes 14 and 15 pass`through the bar. The two middle holes are slightly higher than the'two end holes and it will be observedthat the hole 15 is oval or oblong and wider at their mouth tapering inwards` towards the rail.

In Figure 2 the side of the bar next to the rail is shown, and its middle thick portion is longest at the tap.

In Figure 3 the middle thickeued and reinfo'eed portions are shown together with the end portions or wings which before being clamped to the rail are. spaced from the web of the rail at a gradually increasing distance from the terminations of the thickened middle portions.

Figure 4 illustrates the lower portions of 'the middle and end portions of the bar, be-

'fore being clamped to the web .of the rail.

Figure 5 shows the tops of the middle thickened portions of the bar arranged against the web of the rail.

Figure 6 shows two meeting rails and the arrangement of bolt holes that n ay be made to engage the bars of this invention. Some of the holes are of oval form. This inven- .tion i's in no way limited toithe nunber or form of the bolt holes.

Figures 7, 8, 9, and 10 show vertical sec- 'tions of the positions of diflerent parts of the bar plate with respect to the-;head and web and flange of the rail, before the bolts are inserted and made tight. The form of thethickened middle portion and of its reinforceadded portionis shown in the Figure 10.

In Figure lLthere are shown two meeting rails 16 and 17 with a modified bar 18 arranged against the sides of the. rails. The bar has three bolt holes 19, 20 and 21. It

will be noted that the 'hole 20 is slightly higher thanthe other holzs, and that the llO added reinforce part of the thickened middle portion 22 is now omitted to allow for the bolt head and nut. But, the rib 23 remains as before across' the lower middle por-' tion of the bar to assist in taking care `of the blows and weight and to add to the` large bolts for st-rength.

As shown in Figures 13 and 14, it is advantageous to use a bolt 27 with anenlargement or throat 28 near the head of the bolt. It will be noted that the bolt hole in the bar :is tapered correspondingly with the -enlargement 28, and this construction insures a perfectly tight' joint what-soever the hurry may be on the part of the track layers. It is to be understood, however, that this invention is in no way limited to any particular shape v of the bolts or bolt holes.

In Figure where .the ends of-the bars have been forced into their extreme or final position against the rail web, and the bolts and bolt heads, as well as the bars themselves, are under constant tension as will be noted by the space clearing the web between the thickened middle portion and the extreme end portio'ns of the bar plate. Wheel loads passing in any number can not shake the` bolts loose, and the bars re-act Upwardly having a tendency to lift the load or throw the force from the joint in the same direction as the wheels of the car approaching the meeting.- line of the two rails or when it passes over the' joint to throw it beyond in the direction the wheel is moving.

In F igure 16 the rail 2 is shown in section, with the bar plates 3 clearing the sides. The bolt 29 has been tightened, or this sectional figure may be taken as a section through the bar plates near their ends and the rail after the ends of the bars have been or tightened to its extreme, or under 'a heavy` wheel load, or the rails bending` down over the'bolt hole would clear the bolt and throw the pressure or weight to the' joint at the thick middle portionof the bar where it is intended, and as heroin before described.

The bar will fully recover its first shape after the loadhas passed and the bolts can not work loose.

It will be unde'stood thatthe bar herein specified has a cambered effEJ't both on its top edge and hack side, fitting; the rail, so upon the approach of the load, and When on the joint, the rail heads and ends immediately function by the springy action or tension qualities of the bar, the direction thereof being both vertical and horizontal thereby counteracting the load or Stress trial location.

It is believed that the drawings so fully I illustrate this invention, taken with the fore- 'going description, that an explanation of the operation in detail is not necessary. A joint or bar plate fashioned and constructed in accordance with this invention has the effect that when the wheel load is directly over the middle of the bar or at the meeting line of the two rails, the weight is always equally distributed and taken lip by the bar through out its entire length, width and thickness, and the wheel load does not throw a strain oh any particular part of the bar or -on any individual bolt as is now frequently the result with ordinary fishplates. When a wheel approaches a joint equipped with this invention, the ends of the rails are always supported and held up and carry j the wheel across the joint. The ends of the rails do not dip or butter 'as the action ofthe bar plates under the approaching wheels is to throw the joint up in a reflex action and the rail' ends are brought solidly together and hold themselves in a straight line.

Having now described this invention and explained the manner of its operation, I claim i l. A bar plate for holding two rails end to end where they meet with the meeting line vertical and the rails in line lengthwise, said bar plate being thcker and. wider through its middle ,portion and reintorced at the middle with additional thickened portions, the inner surface of said middle portion conforming with and facially abutting the rail web.

2. A bar plate for holding-two rails 'end to end where they meet, the said bar being wider and thicker through its middle portion, and the said middle portion contorming with and snuglyfitting against the side of the web of the rail and part way under,

the head of the rail and down upon the top of the flange of the rail.

3. A bar plate for holding two rails end to end where they meet, the said bar being wider and thicker through its middle por tion, the said middle' portion being formed to fit snugly against the web and head and flange of the rail, the surface of the said 'bar from the terminations ot the said middle thickencd porticns being tapered and spaced ,from the web of the rail, the said tapered sur-face extending to the ends ot the bar 'whereby the end portions of the bar are thinner than the said middle portion.

t. A bar platetor holding two rails end to end where they meet, 'the said bar being Wider and thicker. through its middle portion and formed to fit snugly against the web and headand flange of 'the rail, the surface of the bar from the terminations of 'the said thiekened portions being tapered and spaced from the web of the rail at a gradually increasing distance to ,the ends of the bar whereby the end portions of the bar are made thinner than the said middle portions.

5. A bar plate for holding two rails end to endwhere' they meet with the meeting line vertical and therails in line lengthwise, said bar being thickerand wider through its middle portion, the said middle portion being greater in length at the top than at the bottom .and having its inner surface shaped in conformity andada'pted for facial abutment with cont-iguous portions of the rail web, head 'and .baseflange, and the said middle portion having at the middle thereof an additional thickened portion. v

6. A bar plate for holding two rails end to end where they meet, the said bar being wider andthicker through its middle portion, the said middle portiong being greater in length at the top then at the bottom, and the said middle portion conforming with and snugly fitting against the side of the web' of the rail and part way under the head of the rail and down uponthe top of the flange of the rail. I

7. A bar plate for holding two rails end to endwhere they meet, thesaid bar, being wider and thicker through its middle portion,jthe said middle portion' being formed to fit snugly against the web and head and flange (if the rail, the side of said thickened portion formed to fit the rail being longer at the top than' atthe' bottom, and the ends of the said bar plate from the terminations of the said thickened middle portions being tapered and spaced from the web of the rail when in position on a rail 8. A bar plate for holding two rails end to end where they meet,'the sai'd "bar being wider and thicker through its middle portion and formed to fit snugly against the'web and head and fiange of the rail, the ends of the said bar plate from the terminations' of the said middle thickened portions being tapered and spaced from the web of the rail when in position on a rail at a gradually increasing distance to the ends of the bar whereby 'the end portions of the bar are made thinner than the said middle portions.

9. A bar plate for holding two rails end to end where thev meet, the middle portion ot the said bar plate being made wider and t-hicker, and the end portions of the bar from the terminations of the middle portion being thinner and spaced from the web of the rail when in position thereon, the bottoms of the said end 'portions resting down upon the top of the flange of the rail.

10. A bar plate for holding two rails end to end where they meet, the middle portion of the bar being made wider and thicker than the end portions, the side of the said middle portion resting against the rail when in position thereon being longer at the top than at the bottom, and the end portions of; the bar diminishing in thickness to their extremities.

11. A bar plate for holding two rails end to end where they meet, the middle portion of the bar being made wider and thicker than the end portions, said end portions diminishing in thickness outwardly, the top edges of the said end portions dropping down below the top of the middle portion to clear the under side of the head of the rail, and the bottom edges of the said end portions constructed to rest down on the top of the fiange of the rail when in position thereon.

12. A bar plate for holding two rails end to end where they meet, the middle portion of the bar being made wider and thicker than the end portions, the side of said middle portion resting against the rail-when in position thereon being longer' at the top than :it-the bottom, the said middle portion having a reinforce added portion at its middle part increasing in width and thickness from top to bottom thereof.

13. A bar plate for holding two rails end to end where they meet, the middle portion of the bar being made wider and thicker than the end portions, the side of said middle portion resting against the rail when in position thereon being longer at the top than at the bottom, the said middle portion having a reinforce added portion at its midlOO dle part, and the said added portion having a reinforce rib at its bottom extending lengthwise of the said bar above the flange of the rail.

14. A bar plate for holding two rails end to end where they meet, the middle portion of the bar being made wider and thicker than the en'd portions, the said bar being provided with bolt holes throu h the said middleportions and near the exlremities of the end portions, the end portions being spaced from the web of the rail when in position thereon, whereby the middle portion of the bar rests against the rail and the ends v of the end the rail.

15. A bar plate -of the character described, the middle portion of the bar being made relatively thick, the ends of the bar being resilient,and the said bar having a plurality of bolt holes through it a part of the number of said holes being ot oval form in crosssection.

16. A bar plate of the character described having its middle portion relatively thickest, the bar having resilient end portions diminishing in thickness to their extremities; and the said bar having a plurality of bolt holes,

portions only are in contact with llO a part of the said holes being` oval diminishing in diameter from the outer to the inner face of the bar.

17. A bar plate of the character 'described having its middle portion relatively thickest, the bar having resilient end portions dilninishng in thickness to their extremities and normally having their extremities only in contact With the Web of the rail When in position thereon, and the said bar being supported upon the flanges of the rails by base flanges located at the bottom of the said middle portion of the' bar and at the bottoms of the extremities of the said end portions.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

GEORGE MULLER. 

